Ignition distributor



Feb. 26, 1946. F; s. COE

' IGNITION DISTRIBUTOR Filed Oct. 22, 1942 2 Sheets-Sheet 1 INVENTOR. frank J3 Coe BY Q. I

Feb. 26, 1946. s :05 2,395,611

I IGNITION DISTRIBUTOR Filed Oct. 22, 1942 2 Sheets-Sheet 2 INVENTOR. nMk I BY Patented Feb. 26, 1946 IGNITION DISTRIBUTOR Frank S. Coe, Springfield, Mass, assignor to American Bosch Corporation,

Springfield,

Mass, a corporation of New York Application October 22, 1942, Serial No. 462,920

7 Claims. (Cl. 200-19) This invention relates'to distributors of and for high tension ignition generators, as magnetos or battery ignition timers, and particularly to such distributors as have metal housings with detachable covers.

The primary object of the invention is to provide a distributor of this kind wherein the stationary electrodes are supported within the housing in comparatively close proximity thereto without undue hazard of electrical flashover therebetween, by interposing between the elec trodes and the housing an insulating shield which is of inverted trough form held in place by the cover of the distributor and having an upstanding rim and a top with an opening into which extends the distributor rotor. Preferably the incoming terminal of the distributor is mounted on the cover and the electrical connection between that terminal and the electrode of the distributor rotor extends through the opening in the top of the insulating shield. Preferably also. the wall of the housing carries an interior shelf which supports in an insulating manner the stationary electrodes in cooperation with the distributor electrode and which also supports adjacent the wall of the housing an elastic ring against which the insulating shield is pressed by the cover.

Another object is to provide the distributor with a detachable bottom of dish-shape, so that a comparatively strong and light member is obtained as a result of its form. capable of withstanding severe shock and vibration such as encountered on airplanes while supporting the bearing for the shaft of the distributor. Furthermore, such a distributor may be converted readily from one having an interiorly arranged air compressor driven by the distributor shaft for sunercharging the distributor for operation at high altitudes to one not so provided, and vice versa, merely by appropriately changing the bottom member with the compressor, shaft and/or bearings supported thereby.

Still another object is to provide a distributor of the kind of comparatively light weight, compact, inexpensive and durable in service under severe shock and vibration as when incorporated in the ignition harness or manifold or other radio shielding devices of engines on airplanes.

Still another object is to provide as a spare or replacement part for combination with other parts of such a distributor, the insulating shield of the form herein described.

the invention will be understood from the following description taken in connection with the accompanying drawings showing the preferred embodiment of the invention with and without an interiorly arranged compressor. In the drawmgs,

Fig. l is a vertical section, partly in elevation, of the distributor without the compressor; Fig.

. 2 is a similar section of the lower part of the distributor with a compressor therein; and Fig. 3 is a central section of the bottom member of Fig. 2.

Referring to Fig. 1, the housing of the distributor comprises an upstanding wall I of generally circular outline to which is fastened a top cover 2 by screws as 3, and a bottom member 4 by screws as 5. The parts of the housing are formed of pressure castings of light and strong metal resistant to shock and vibration as an alloy of aluminum and silicon. Integral with the upstanding wall I is a shelf 6 extending around the inner surface thereof and having a cavity at 1 extending underneath the shelf to an outlet at 8. The bottom member has a substantially flat outer peripheral rim 9, of generally circular outline conforming to the wall I, and a depressed central portion In integral therewith. This dish-form of bottom member 4 is comparatively strong and resistant to shock and vibration on account of its form also. The depressed portion 10 is fastened by threaded pins and nuts as H to a supporting member H for the ball bearings 13 and I4, and also a rigid support S of the engine or ignition harness or manifold in which the distributor is mounted. In these hearings is mounted a rotatable shaft l5 with a pinion I6 fastened on its lower end and adapted to be driven at cam shaft speed and in timed relation by the internal combustion engine with which the distributor is to be associated. There is fastened to the top of shaft I5 by screws as I! a driving disc l8 having a pin l9 projecting into the distributor rotor 20 of insulating material. The horizontally embedded distributor electrode 2| is arranged, upon rotation of shaft 15, to cooperate sequentially with the plurality of stationary distributor electrodes 22 fastened circularly on the shelf 6 and insulated therefrom'by respective insulators 23. The incoming high tension terminal 24 extends through the cover 2 and has an insert 25 forming a gap connector with the projecting upper end of the insert 26 which extends into contact with the distributor electrode 2 I, generally similar to the gap connectors of Patent 2,250,682. This gap connector is enclosed These and other advantages and objects of by a shroud 25 of insulating material to preclude electrical flashover or breakdown between the cover 2 and the exposed parts of the electrical commotion between the incoming terminal 24 and the distributor electrode 2!.

Extending around the inner wall I of the hous ing, and between it and the stationary electrodes 22 and also between the electrodes and the cover 2, is an integral insulating shield 21 which has an upstanding rim 28 and a top 29 with an opening 30 therethrough so as to interpose its electrical resistance between the stationary electrodes, as well as the projecting end of electrode 2!, and both the wall I and cover 2 of the housing. As shown, this insulating shield is pressed down by the cover against a rubber ring 3| embedded in the shelf 6 so as to be held tightly in place. The members 25 and 26 forming the gap connector, and connecting the terminal 24 to the distributor electrode 2|, extend through this opening. In this way the hazard of electrical flashover between the stationary electrodes and the housing, and between the distributor electrode 2| and the housing, is reduced, notwithstanding the fact that these electrodes are in comparatively close proximity to the housing in order to reduce the diameter, hight and weight of the housing.

A radio shielded wire (not shown) is fastened in the terminal 24 in the well known way and hermetically seals the distributor at this place. Insulated wires (not shown) are fastened to the stationary electrodes 22 in any suitable way and extend through the tunnel I to the outlet 8 which is adapted to be fastened in the well known way to an ignition manifold of well known kind leading to outlets in the manifold for shielded wires connected to respective sparkplugs in the cylinders of the engine. The brush 32 grounds the shaft to prevent electrostatically induced currents from passing through the balls of the bearin s l3 and H. Gaskets 33 and 34 seal the distributor against the entry of water and dust thereinto and also to build up or hold compression in case the distributor is to be supercharged or pressurized.

The housing of Fig. 2 is identical with that of Fig. 1, except for the bottom member 35, which in this case supports an interiorly arranged air compressor 36 for supercharging the distributor for operation at great altitudes. This bottom member is also dish-shaped having a substantially flat peripheral rim 31 and a depressed portion 38. On this depressed portion is fastened by screws as 38 the stator of the air compressor 36 of the radial vane type, the rotor of which is driven by the shaft 55. The depressed portion of the bottom member is provided with an air inlet at 40 and, if desired, with filters 4| for the air incoming to and outgoing from the compressor. An outlet for the air from the distributor may be arranged in the cover or otherwise as desired.

From the foregoing it will be apparent that the distributor of Fig. 1 without the compressor may be converted to the distributor of Fig. 2 with a compressor, and vice versa, merely by appropriately interchanging the bottom members of the kind there shown. Furthermore, by removing the bottom member shown either in Fig. l or Fig. 2, the tunnel I is opened so that the wires to the stationary electrodes 22 may be connected and laid around the tunnel to the outlet 8. Also the gaps between the stationary electrodes 22 and the distributor electrode 2! may then be separately adjusted Furthermore, the

insulating shield may be inspected or replaced upon removing the cover 2.

While only the preferred embodiment of the distributor is disclosed herein, and while only a single form of the insulating shield is shown herein, it is obvious that'many modifications may be made therein, so long as the comparatively light weight and compact structure is obtained without undue hazard of electrical fiashover or breakdown between the high tension parts and the housing. For instance, the upstanding wall of the housing may be other than circular in contour, and the stationary electrodes, as well as the distributor rotor and its electrode, may be of any other suitable type and arranged and mounted in any other suitable way. Also, a brush connector of any suitable form may replace the gap connector herein shown between the incoming terminal and the distributor electrode, and the incoming terminal may have other forms and arrangements. Also any suitable kind of air compressor may be used, and the distributor may be arranged for any suitable number of engine cylinders. In some forms of the distributor it is not essential to have the bottom member detachable, but where it is detachable it is preferable to have it dish-shaped to provide the additional strength that results from that form and that is desirable for supporting the shaft with the devices fastened to it and also for supporting the air compressor where such is provided. Many other modifications of the parts and their arrangement may be made. Accordingly, the terms of the appended claims are intended to have the broadest scope consistent with the invention herein disclosed.

Having thus described my invention, what I claim is:

1. In a high tension distributor for ignition currents, a metal housing having a detachable cover and an upstanding wall, a plurality of stationary electrodes insulatingly mounted in the housing, an insulating shield of inverted trough form which has an upstanding rim and a top with an opening through the top and which is held by the cover in position to interpose its electrical resistance between the stationary electrodes and both the wall and cover of the housing, a shaft journaled in the housing, and a distributor rotor which is fastened to the shaft and has an electrode arranged to cooperate sequentially with the stationary electrodes and which extends into the opening in the top of the shield 2. In a high tension distributor for ignition currents, a metal housing which has a detachable cover and an upstanding wall and which has a shelf fast with the wall and extending inwardly thereof, a plurality of stationary electrodes insulatingly mounted on the shelf, an elastic ring mounted on the shelf adjacent the interior of the wall, an insulating shield of inverted trough form which has an upstanding rim and a top with an opening through the top and which is held by the cover with the rim pressed on the elastic ring in position to interpose its electrical resistance between the stationary electrodes and both the wall and cover of the housing, a shaft journaled in the housing, and a distributor rotor which is fastened to the shaft and carries an electrode arranged to cooperate sequentially with the stationary electrodes and which extends into the opening in the top of the shield.

3. In a high tension distributor for ignition currents, a metal housing having a detachable cover and an upstanding wall, a plurality of stationary electrodes insulatingly mounted in the housing, an insulating shield which has a rim portion and also a top portion with an opening therethrough and which is held by the cover in position to interpose its electrical resistance between the stationary electrodes and both the side wall and the cover, a shaft journaled in the housing, a distributor electrode fastened to the shaft to cooperate sequentially with the stationary electrodes, and a terminal mounted on the top of the cover and electrically connected to the distributor electrode through the opening in the top of the shield.

4. In a high tension distributor for ignition currents, a metal housing which has an upstanding wall and which has a cover and a dish-shaped bottom member both detachably fastened to the wall, a shaft journaled in the bottom member, a plurality of stationary electrodes insulatingly mounted in the housing, an insulating shield of inverted trough form which has an upstanding rim and a top with an openin through the top and which is held by the cover in position to inter pose its electrical resistance between the stationary electrodes and both the wall and the cover of the housing, and a distributor rotor which i fastened to the shaft and carries an electrode arranged to cooperate sequentially with the stationary electrodes and which extends int the opening in the top of the shield.

5. In a high tension distributor for ignition currents, a metal housing which has an upstanding wall and also a cover and a dish-shaped bottom member both detachably fastened to the wall and which has a Shelf fast with the wall and extending inwardly thereof, an elastic ring mounted in the shelf adjacent the wall, a plurality of stationary electrodes insulatingly fastened to the shelf,

an insulating shield of inverted trough form which which has an upstanding rim and a top with an opening through the top and which is pressed by the cover against the elastic ring to interpose its electrical resistance between the stationary electrodes and both the wall and the cover of the housing, a shaft iournaled in the bottom 45 tion and the cover of the housing.

member of the housing, and a distributor rotor which is fastened to the shaft and has an electrode arranged to cooperate sequentially with the stationary electrodes and which extends into the opening in the top of the shelf.

6L In a high tension distributor for ignition currents, a metal housing having an upstanding wall and a detachable cover, a plurality of stationary electrodes insulatingly mounted in the housing, a shaft journaled in the housing, a, distributor rotor of insulating material which is fastened to the shaft and which has an embedded distributor electrode projecting at one end to cooperate sequentially with the stationary electrodes, and an insulating shield of inverted trough form which has an upstanding rim and a top with an opening through the top and which is held by the cover in position to interpose its electrical resistance between the stationary electrodes, as well as between the projecting end of the distributor electrode, and both the wall and cover of the housing.

7. In a high tension distributor for ignition currents, a metal housing having an upstanding wall and a detachable cover, a shaft journaled in the housing, an incoming terminal fastened on the cover, a plurality of stationary electrodes insulatingly mounted in the housing, a distributor rotor of insulating material which is fastened to the shaft and has a horizontally embedded electrode projecting at one end to cooperate sequentially with the stationary electrodes and which has a vertically embedded insert electrically connecting the incoming terminal and the distributor electrode, an insulating shield of inverted trough form which as an upstanding rim and a top with an opening through the top and which is held by the cover in position to interpose its electrical resistance between the stationary electrodes, as well as between the projecting end of the distributor electrode, and both the wall and cover of the housing, and an insulating shroud surrounding the electrical connection between the incoming terminal and the vertical insert to interpose its electrical resistance between that connec- FRANK S. COE. 

